Coin controlled newspaper vending machine, and coin controlled mechanism adaptable thereto



3,1 74,608 com K. KNICKERBOCKER March 23, 1965 COIN CONTROLLED N EWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE. AND

CONTROLLED MECHANISM ADAPTABLE THERETO 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1963 a 3 H2 I? Ker/ l meeracer 7 myzmon BY ATTOR E) March 23, 1965 K. KNICKERBOCKER n NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHIN OIN COIN CONTROLLE E. AND C CONTROLLED MECHANISM ADAPTABLE THERETO 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1963 Fig 4 OIN March 23, 1965 K. KNICKERBOCKER com CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE. AND 0 CONTROLLED MECHANISM ADAPTABLE THERETO 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 19, 1963 1 VENTOR A 7 QZNE Y l ar/ [Mia/backer 3,174,608 com March 23, 1965 K. KNICKERBOCKER COIN CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE. AND

CONTROLLED MECHANISM ADAPTABLE THERETO 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 19, 1965 @LLU Fly. 6

March 23, 1965 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,174,608

COIN CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE. AND COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM ADAPTABLE THERETO 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 19, 1963 Fig. 7

MPVX 5) @m w m #1 Z M United States Patent 3,174,608 COIN CGNTRGLLED NEWSPAPER VENDING MA- CHINE, AND COIN CGNTROLLED MEQHANESM ADAPTABLE THERETO Karl Knickerbocker, 400 Baycrest Drive, Venice, Fla. Filed duly 19, 1963, Ser. No. 296,241 4 Claims. (Cl. 194-54) This invention relates to coin controlled mechanism and is concerned with means for coin controlled release of inter-engaged mechanisms, and to a newspaper dispensing cabinet controlled by such mechanism.

In the following consideration of the present specific embodiment of the present invention, while the cabinet here shown by way of illustration, is particularly adapted and designed for the vending of newspapers, it will be understood that the invention is in no way limited to this specific use of the cabinet. By suitable modification, well within the skill of those familiar with this art, the inventive aspects of the cabinet may be readily adapted to use in the dispensing of a wide variety of merchandise. It will be further understood that the coin controlled mechanism here shown for retention of the door of the cabinet, may be admirably suited for the control of various inter-engaging elements where the parts are to be disengaged in response to the deposit of a predetermined coin, multiple of coins, or combination of coins.

The herein presented form of the invention, constituting a commercially available embodiment thereof, includes a cabinet, box or rack-like body, preferably of generally rectangular configuration, which may receive the articles to be dispensed and which is normally closed by a pivoted closured door formed with a latch tongue adapted to be releasably retained by the coin controlled mechanism of the invention. As will be noted, the present construction of the article receptacle includes structural features providing a weather-proof seal for the container, to preclude damage of the contents by the elements, as well as means for guarding the hinge structure from deterioration by exposure to the weather. Further, the latch mechanism constitutes a handle by which the door may be readily opened for the dispensing of articles after release of the door by the coin controlled mechanism. Another important feature of the invention is the design and construction of the dispensing cabinet in such manner as to provide security, durability, rigidity of construction and freedom from danger of undue deterioration through use, and a construction readily designed to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

The present invention further includes coin control mechanism which in its present environment is adapted to provide for the locking of the door latch tongue in closed position and means by which the latch tongue may be released through motion imparted to the door and door latch, only when a predetermined coin, multiples thereof, or combinations of coins are deposited within the coin control mechanism.

Generally speaking, therefore, it is among the general objects of the present invention to provide a novel and improved coin controlled release mechanism. A further object of the invention is to provide a coin controlled latch release mechanism which may be readily adjusted to limit the latch releasing to a predetermined variable selection of coins or groups of coins deposited therein. It is a further object of the invention to provide in a coin controlled mechanism, a novel and improved means for the discarding of illegitimate tokens, coins or slugs, or the like, without permitting such illegitimate pieces to actuate the release mechanism or to enter such mechanism to obstruct, jam or otherwise inter fere with the normal and intended operation of the device. Other objects with respect to the coin control iilmfib Patented Mar. 23, 1965 mechanism are to provide a novel and improved device of the character set forth, which is rugged and durable and adapted for a long life of usefulness without requiring undue expense in manufacture, upkeep or repairs. A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cabinet for utilizing the coin controlled mechanism referred to above and one which is simple in construction, rugged and durable in design, including weather-proof characteristics, and one readily manufactured and maintained in operative condition without undue expense. Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing cabinet of the present invention, illustrating the disposition thereon of the coin control housing,

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing the weather-proof seal for the top lip of the cabinet door,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIG. 4 is a front elevation partly broken away illustrating the coin control mechanism,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the coin control mechanism looking from the right of FIGURE 4,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation similar to FIGURE 5, with the quarter control mechanism removed, and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the left hand side of the coin controlled mechanism.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that one preferred form of the cabinet of the present invention, particularly constructed and arranged for dispensing newspapers or the like, comprises a generally rectangular cabinet body having side walls 16 and front and rear walls 11 and 12 respectively, together with a flat top 13 and corners supporting feet 14. For display purposes the sides it may be provided with transparent windows indicated at 15. Below the door on the front 11 of the cabinet there may be provided a suitable rack 16 to receive and display changeable exhibitor cards, such as those bearing the title of the publication to be dispensed, significant headlines or other data. In that form of the cabinet here shown, a horizontal transverse floor 13 is provided within the cabinet at a position just below the door to support newspapers, magazines or the like for ready accessibility when the door is opened.

The door of the cabinet comprises a simple, rectangular frame 20 supporting a transparent closure pane 21 sealingly mounted within the frame 20. On a central location along the top rail of the door frame 20 there is provided a latch enclosure 22 extending upwardly from the outer face of the top rail and from which extends an outwardly projecting manipulating handle 23. The latch enclosure 22, as more clearly illustrated in FIGURES 5, f6 and 7, includes side flanges 24 and a top inwardly exgtending flange 25, which in combination with an upper front flange 26 in the coin control housing forms a sealing enclosure. A latch tongue 27 having a central aperture 28 is pivotally mounted on the inner face of the latch housing 22 between inwardly projecting cars 29 supporting a transverse pintle 3%. Around the pintle 36 is disposed a spring 31 normally tending to urge the latch upwardly to engage a central downwardly projecting detent 32 of a fixed keeper bar 33 of the coin control mechanism. When the door is closed the detent 32 is engageable through the aperture 28 of the latch plate 27.

The top rail of the door 26 (see FIGURE 2) is formed with a horizontal lip 35 which is adapted to be received within a weather-proofing transverse recess 36 in the front provide an-internal hinged mounting for the door.

of a depending lip 37'of the upper edge of the door opening of the cabinet 10. The recess 36 is formed with a trough 37a whereby collected moisture or rain which may be driven inwardly over the lip 35 will be received in channel 36 to be drained transversely by the trough and discharged outwardly along the sides 10 of the cabinet. In combination with the lip 35 and channel 36 the sides 38 of the door frame constitute inwardly disposed flanges to further enhance the weather-proofing character of the door in its closed position.

Referring to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that with respect to the door hinge, in order to provide a straight uniform flat outer door surface, and to provide means for normally urging the door in a closed position with its spring urged latch 27 engaging the detent 28, there is provided on the inner face of the lower transverse rail 40 of the door, an inwardly extending hinge block 41 which receives a hinged pintle 42 secured within the recess of the block 41 by a companion hinge block 43, the blocks being secured through bolts 43a to A torsion spring 44 encircles the pintle 42 and extends downwardly to engage the internal face of the front 11 of the cabinet and after encircling the pintle is engaged as at 45 to the inner face of the rail 40. In this manner it will be seen that the door presents a smooth outer surface and that the extension of the rail 40 below the hinge precludes ingress of water and protects the hinge from the elements. In this connection it will be noted that the flange 38 onthe side of the door extends below the location of the hinge. It will further be noted that the flange is spaced outwardly from the sides of the cabinet so that water seeping from the trough 37a will'pass down the sides of the cabinet under the flange $8 and will not endanger the contents of the cabinet.

Referring now to the coin control mechanism for releasing the door, this mechanism is shown as enclosed in a housing mounted on the top 13 of the cabinet. The housing includes a front face 50, side walls 51 and a hinged top 52 with which the rear closure wall 53 is integrally formed. The sides, top and rear walls of the cabinet are here shown as imporforate, while the front wall 50 is provided with coin receiving slots 55, 56 and 57, to receive quarters, dimes and nickels, respectively. Below these coin receiving slots, an aperture is provided to receive a coin return trough SSthe face of which is provided with a flange 59 to engage and be secured through the front face th.

The coin control mechanism itself is depicted in detail in FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7, and may be broadly defined as providing a plurality of parallel coin receiving chutes, each provided with a pivoted rejector for coins of improper size. Each chute is also provided with a price setter or stop mechanism formed by a pivotally mounted finger which is spring pressed allowing a coin to freely move downward but precluding upward movement of the coins in the slots. device for operation by predetermined number of coins in each slot and price setters are vertically indexible so as to engage the top coin of a predetermined number of coins. In the operation of the device, when the coins are in proper number and sequence or combination, the lowermost coin will engage the pivoted latch whereby outward movement of the latch with the door will cause the coin to cam the latch downwardly .to disengage the keeper and permit opening of the door.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the numeral 643 indicates the quarter channel to which the coins are supplied from the quarter slot 55. Entering the upper end of the channel 66 is a small coin ejector finger 61, shown in side elevation in FIGURE 5. Finger 61 extends from an arm 62 loosely mounted on a bolt 63 to be readily pivoted outwardly by a quarter which is retained in the slot wall 67. Towever, at the finger 61 the wall 64 is apertured to permit sideways passage therethrough under pressure of the finger of a coin of smaller diameter than the quarter. Thus, smaller coins will be ejected by the finger 61 to drop in the central passage 65 to be received within the rejected coin retaining chute 58. Side bolts 63 loosely engage arm 62 to limit the pivotal movement of the ejector finger 61. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 5 the quarter chute extends inwardly past the finger 61 to provide a downward flight 66. From FIGURE 4 it will be noted that the quarter channel 60 and its flight 66 is formed between a vertical side piece 67 and an inwardly spaced parallelintermediatevertical piece 68.

At the lower end of the flight 66 of the quarter slot, the side piece 68 is cut away as at 69 (see FIGURE 5) to receive the stop end 7% of a fixed price fixer stop arm 71, pivotally mounted as at 72 from the inner face of the front 5t of the coin control mechanism housing. The location of the terminal end 73 of the stop end 70 is located a distance above the top surface of the latch arm 27 within its horizontal locking position, adistance slightly less than the diameter of a quarter sized coin, which is indicated in FIGURE 5 by the numeral 74. The reason for the distance being less than the diameter of the coin is in view of the fact that the end 73-is preferably arranged at the side of the flight 66 rather than in the center thereof. Such side disposition facilitates the downward passage of a coin which will readily pass the apex end 70' to move it inwardly into and thereafter return to engage the coin at one side thereof and effectively preclude retrograde or upward movement of the coin in the flight 66.

The operation of the device with a quarter sized coin inserted through the slot 55 and successfully passing the finger 61, which would otherwise reject a coin of smaller size, provides for the delivery of the coin through the flight 66 and downwardly therein past the end 73 of the price setter, so as to lodge it on the upper face of the pivoted latch tongue, and forwardiy'of the right hand upwardly projecting release tab 75 on the right hand rear portion of the tongue 27. A companion tab 76 is provided at the other side of the latch tongue. With the quarter coin so resting upon the tongue, as shown in FIGURE 4, and with the tongue in its horizontal position to be retained by the detent 32, as in FIGURES 6 In order to adjust the and 7, it will be seen that as the door is urged to open position by an outward force on the handle 23', the tab '75 will engage the coin and the rounded edge surface of the coin will earn the latch tongue downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 5 to release the tongue from the detent 32 and permit the door to be opened and a newspaper or other article withdrawn from the cabinet. In this connection it is important to note that at any time when a quarter is inserted to lie upon the tongue, the door may be opened in the manner stated. This, regardless of' and independent of, any or all coins which could have been previously inserted through the other slots hereinafter to be discussed.

Referring now to FIGURE 6 of the drawings, taken in connection with FIGURE 4, the nickel or five cent operating latch release arrangement is therein illustrated, the view showing the quarter control mechanism removed. The coins forthe nickel passageway 30 are supplied through the slot' 56 in the face of the coin control housing. The passageway 50 is defined by the inner wall 68 of the quarter passageway 6t? and an inner wall 82 which forms one side wall of the rejected coin passage 65. Into the passage 8th there projects the finger S3 of the small coin rejector device 84 which is a duplicate of the same device as used in the quarter slot and referred to by the numerals 61 to 65. Thus, if a coin of smaller size than a nickel is inserted through the slot 56 and enters the passageway 86 it will be rejected by the action of the finger 83 in the manner described with respect to quarters.

The passageway 86 extends downward, as indicated in FIGURE 6, past the rejected coin receptacle 58 and for? wardly to a vertical passage 84a, the lower end of which is in line with the latch 27. Arranged along the passage 84a and slidable upon a guide 85, is a price selector including a slidable base 87 upon which is pivotally mounted on pintle 88 a price selector arm 89 having a terminal lower projection 99 for selective engagement within apertures 91 of the bracket 85. A spring 92 releasably urges end 90 for engagement in a selected aperture fil. Independently pivoted on the same pintle 88 carried by the bracket 89:: is a coin stop arm 94 the lower end 9d of which may be selectively positioned to extend through a selected one of the five apertures 95a on the side of the passage 84. It will be understood that the arm 94 is free to move as a coin passes down the passage but rocks inwardly by gravity after the passage of such coin to preclude retrograde or upward movement of the coin after passage by the arm. After passage the first coin deposited will rest upon the latch 27 in front of the upper projection 75.

Depending upon the location of the price selector, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 coins may be deposited in the slot with the arm 94 in engagement with the uppermost of the group of coins selected, or of a single coin if the selector is so set. In this connection it will be noted that the location of the end of arm 94 is to one side of the coin rather than directly above, since the coin may thus more readily pass the arm and rock it outwardly as it passes. Should the arm be directly above the center of the coin difficulty could be encountered, while by locating it to the side, the arm will engage the peripheral edge of the coin to positively block it from upward movement. With the selected coin or plurality of coins within the passage 84 restrained against upward movement, it will be seen that as the door is opened the lowermost coin will engage the projection 75 rocking the latch downwardly to release the detent 32 from the aperture 28 of the latch in the manner indicated in FIGURE 5, and hence permit the door to be opened for delivery of a newspaper to the operator.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 in connection with FIG- URE 4, it will be seen that the coin control mechanism further includes a dime passage 190 on the opposite side from the quarter and nickel passages, to which dime coins may be inserted through the aperture 57. In the passageway 100 there is provided the small coin rejecting mechanism as referred to before in connection with the quarter and nickel passageways, and here indicated at ltll. The structure, arrangement and function is identical with those before described. Having passed the small coin rejector mechanism the passageway turns forwardly as at 102 to a vertical passage 103. In association with passage 103 on a support bracket 1% there is provided the dime price selector mechanism 1&5, identical with the price selector referred to in detail with respect to FIGURE 6. With respect to the bracket 104, it will be noted that there are provided three apertures ms for engaging the price selector at a desired position and there are three associated apertures 107 communicating with the passage 103. The arrangement is suchthat as the price selector is indeXed the arrangement may be such as to preclude the upper movement of any coin in the slot whether there be one, two or three such coins. Therefore, dependent upon the location of the stop, precluding upward movement of a coin, the latch will be operated in the manner aforesaid by the dime coin engaging the rear lip 76 of the tongue in the same manner as illustrated in FIGURE 5 with respect to the quarter mechanism.

From a consideration of the foregoing discussion of the mechanism of the coin control device, it is to be noted that the latch 27 may be depressed against the tension of its spring to release the detent 32 by the presence in any one of the passageways of the predetermined number of coins. In the present instance, a quarter in the lower portion of the quarter passageway 66 retained against upward movement by the finger 70 will rock the latch, as shown in FIGURE 5, to release the door, regardless of the presence or absence of any coins in the other passageways. Similarly, when the price selector is set in the dime passageway, shown in FIGURE 7, with three dimes therein retained against upward movement by the end of the arm 94, outward movement of the latch will cause the lowermost coin to cam the latch downwardly for release. This being true whether or not a quarter is in the quarter slot or one or more nickels in the nickel slot. With three nickels located in the nickel slot and with the stop adjusted, as indicated in FIGURE 6, the lowermost nickel will release the latch. Again such release is independent of what coins may be in other coin passages. As will be noted, the latch will always be released when a quarter is located in the quarter passage and retained by the stop mechanism. As shown in FIGURE 7, the price setter of the dime passageway may be set so as to preclude the upward movement of either one, two or three dimes, so that in its lowermost position a single dime may act to release the latch, or in its intermediate position two dimes will release the latch, or in its topmost position, as shown in FIGURE 7, three dimes are required to produce a releasing movement of the latch. With respect to the nickel passage way, as indicated in FIGURE 6, any one of five positions may be used in adjusting the price fixer and thus by appropriate adjustment the door may be released by either a nickel, two nickels, three nickels, four nickels or five nickels, depending upon the location of the price fixer. Once the latch is released all coins in whatever passageway are dropped when the latch is withdrawn and received within the coin receptacle 116 located in the coin control mechanism housing, below the end of the coin passageways and beneath the lowermost position of the latch. Thus, for a single five cent sale, the latch may be released by the presence of either one nickel, one dime or one quarter in the lowermost portion of its respective coin slot and with the price setter adjusted to retain the coin against upward movement. With the nickel slot price setter set to the two coin location, and the dime slot price fixer set to engage one dime in the slot, 21 ten cent sale may be efiected by the insertion of either two nick-els or one dime and the latch will also be released by the presence of a quarter. Similarly, for a fifteen cent sale, three nickels or two dimes may release the latch by appropriate adjustment of the price setters, or by the presence of a quarter. For a twenty cent sale, the price setter of the nickel chute will be set for four nickels and the dime price setter be set for two dimes. In the presence of either four nickels or two dimes, or the quarter, the twenty cent sale will be effected. For a twenty-five cent sale the nickel price setter will be set to the top position to restrain five nickels and the dime price setter will be set to restrain three dimes. The quarter slot is arranged always to restrain a single quarter.

Thus the apparatus is arranged to provide for the delivery of a paper by appropriate coins in any one of the slots, but not by a combination of coins, as for instance, one dime and one nickel should a fifteen cent sale be required. With respect to the denomination of coins, the sizes and the like, it will of course be understood that the nickels, dimes and quarters are referred to merely by way of example and that depending upon the merchandise and the location of the device, other species of coins may be selected for actuation of the latch and the number of such coins may be varied in accordance with appropriate circumstances. Obviously, the quarter passageway may be arranged to provide a movable price setter so that two, three or four or more quarters may be required to release the latch. Similarly, the price setters of the other passageways may be adjusted to actuate the latch under any predetermined number of coins required. Obviously adjustment within the skill of a designer and/or operator may be made to accommodate foreign coins.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that the present invention provides a novel, simple and improved dispensing cabinet for newspapers, periodicals, and the like, or for packaged goods. It will: be seen that the construction provides a weatherproof cabinet whereby outdoor exposure will not subject the material to be dispensed to the effects of inclement weather. The upper edge of the door provides a troughfor disposal of moisture laterally and the hinge arrangement is such as to protect and conceal the hinge as well as to present a smooth front surface for the cabinet. It will be noted that the coin mechanism provides a diversity of controls by which coins in predetermined number may provide for release of the latch. It will be understood that the invention is not limited nor confined to the use of three passageways of different denomination of coins but that one, two or more than three coin passageways may be provided. Thus, it will be apparent that in the practice of the invention numerous changes, modifications and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: V I

1. A coin operated dispensing mechanism including a support structure having'a dispensing member supported thereby which is movable between non-dispensing and dispensing positions, a latch mechanism for locking said member against dispensing movement comprising:

(a) a latch plate pivotally supported by said member and adapted to project therefrom,

(-b) a latch bar fixed to said structure and extending in a plane normal to the plane of said projecting latch plate when saidmember is in its non-dispensing position and to extend transversely of the path of movement of said latch plate when said member is moved from its dispensing position to its non-dispensing position, said latch plate having a slot-like opening therein lying in the plane of said bar and receiving a portion of said bar when said member is in its non-dispensing position,

(c) said portion of said bar received in said openings having a cam surface disposed to cam said latch plate to one side ofsaid 'bar as said member is moved from its dispensing position to its non-dispensing position and having an edge adjacent said cam surface extending at least normal to one end of said opening in said latch pla-tewhen said memher is in its non-dispensing position to engage said edge to lock said plate and said member in nondispensing position, the length of said opening being greater than the length of said portion of said bar received therein whereby lost motion exists between said latch bar and said latch plate,

(d) means forming a coin chute having a discharge opening aligned with said latch plate,

(e) a cam formed on said latch plate in alignment with said discharge of said coin chute and forming a stop for positioning coins to partially project from saiddischarge opening of said chute, and

(f) means'to prevent return of coins into said chute through said discharge opening whereby a coin projecting from said chute coacts with said cam to shift said latch plate out of alignment with said latch bar and remove said portion of said bar from said opening in said latch plate when said member is moved initially toward its dispensing position.

2. A coin operated dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim I further characterized by means to bias said latch plate in a direction to cause said latch bar to be received into said slot-like opening.

3; A coin operated dispensing mechanism comprising means forming a coin chute having two side walls and an upper coin receiving end and a lower coin discharge end, one of said side walls having an opening therethrough,

(a) means forming a guide track extending parallel to said coin chute,

(b) a coin stop device to prevent upward movement of coins in said chute and comprising a base slidabie along said guide track,

(0) an arm pivotally carried by said base and positioned to extend into said coin chute transversely thereof through said opening and to pivotally move out of the paths of coins moving downwardly through said chute,

(d) means yieldingly urging said arm about its pivot to cause said arm to normally extend into said chute,

(e) a plurality of spaced openings in said means forming said guide tracks to provide a plurality ofipositioning stops, l V i (f) a second arm pivoted to said base and having an end portion adapted to be swung into and out of any one of said spaced openings and to be closely received into the respective openings in said guide track means when saidbase is positioned in given positions relative to said spaced openings, and

(g) means biasing said second arm .in a direction to urge said end portion thereof into the respective openings-in said guide track.

4. In a'coin operated mechanism,

(a) a. coin chute structure vcomprising two parallel spaced side walls forming opposite sides of a coin chute having an upper coin'receiving end and a lower coin discharge end,

(b) a guide track extending longitudinally of said chute and adjacent to one of said side walls and along one end of said chute,

(0) a coin stop deviice'supported on said track and comprising a base slidable on said'guide track,

(d) a position selector arm,

(e) a pin pivoting said selector arm to said base, one end of said selector arm being swingable to and from engagement with said chute structure, said pin projecting laterally of said base and transversely of a plane extending parallel to said chute,

(f)- a coin stop arm pivoted to said end portion of said pin and having one end extending in a downwardly direction and toward said discharge end of said chute, said one wall of said chute being open to receive said one end of said coin stop arm,

(g) means biasing said coin stop arm to extend into said opening to block upward movement of a coin in said chute,

(h) positioning means spaced along said track and cooperating with said position selector arm for latch- 7 ing said selector arm to said structure at predetermined positions along the track, and (i) spring means urging said selector arm into engagement with said positioning means.

, References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS "SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

7 WILLIAM B LA BORDE, Examiner. 

1. A COIN OPERATED DISPENSING MECHANISM INCLUDING A SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING A DISPENSING MEMBER SUPPORTED THEREBY WHICH IS MOVABLE BETWEEN NON-DISPENSING AND DISPENSING POSITION, A LATCH MECHANISM FOR LOCKING SAID MEMBER AGAINST DISPENSING MOVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) A LATCH PLATE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO PROJECT THEREFROM, (B) A LATCH BAR FIXED TO SAID STRUCTURE AND EXTENDING IN A PLANE NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID PROJECTING LATCH PLATE WHEN SAID MEMBER IS IN ITS NON-DISPENDING POSITION AND TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH PLATE WHEN SAID MEMBER IS MOVED FROM ITS DISPENSING POSITION TO ITS NON-DISPENSING POSITION, SAID LATCH PLATE HAVING A SLOT-LIKE OPENING THEREIN LYING IN THE PLANE OF SAID BAR AND RECEIVING A PORTION OF SAID BAR WHEN SAID MEMBER IS IN ITS NON-DISPENSING PORTION, 